At the Upstate Chapter’s September 2025 meeting, naturalist and educator Josh Arrants delivered an energetic, heartfelt presentation exploring the connections between people, plants, and the natural world around us.
Blending science, storytelling, and humor, Josh guided the audience through the subtle signs of autumn in South Carolina’s landscapes—from migrating warblers and sourwood leaves to the chemistry of black walnut hulls and the intricate relationships among goldenrod, spiders, and hummingbirds.
He helped us understand that every species tells part of a larger story—and that conservation is not an abstract concept but a daily act of awareness and care. Drawing from his decades of fieldwork and teaching, Josh emphasized the value of curiosity, connection, and gratitude for those who inspired our love of nature in the first place.
His message was as inspiring as it was practical: a reminder that our connection to nature is both inheritance and responsibility—and that caring for the natural world honors those who taught us to love it.
